BJP terms Odisha government as anti-Sanatani; ruling BJD retorts 

The state government is anti-Sanatani, said former Odisha unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sameer Mohanty on Thursday. He said so while referring to Puri Shankaracharya’s comments of being sidelined by the administration and the servitors of the Lord Jagannath temple.
 
The party is condemning the way the government and the temple administration are sidelining him while his directions play an important role in the Jagannath culture and Srimandir’s day-to-day rituals, Mohanty said adding they (the government and the temple administration) should consider his resentment seriously. 

“Of the four Dhams, Puri Dham is the supreme one. It is a matter of concern that the Shankaracharya of this dham is unhappy. It is unfortunate as well. The state government and the temple administration sidelining him is a snub to Sanatan Dharma,” he added. 

Also Read: No one seeks my advice despite SC order: Puri Shankaracharya

Launching a counterattack against the saffron party, BJD MLA Dhruba Sahu said, “I have no reply for those who are speaking about Sanatan Dharma intending to gain political mileage. But Odisha will remember Naveen Patnaik forever for transforming the religious places.”

On December 6, the Puri seer, on the sidelines of a programme in Gujarat’s Surat said, “Nobody cares for my advice. The administration, Srimandir management committee, and the servitors all maintain a distance from me. There is a Supreme Court directive to seek my suggestions and advice in the matters of temple administration and religion, but nobody deems it necessary.”